JP2001030871A - Satellite sensor installation structure of occupant crash protection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect the collision quickly and surely, even at the case of a comparatively soft collision object or at the case of the so-called under-ride collosion in the collision form. SOLUTION: This satellite sensor 20 arranged on the rearside of a head light 22 is composed of a metal lamp installation seat 40 projected integrally on the rearside of the installation part 34 of a lamp main body 32 and a clamp 42 covering the outer periphery of the tip 40A and intermediate part 40B of the installation seat 40 and consisting of a resin soft insulator molded integrally with the installation seat 40. When the lamp main body 32 is retreated, the connection part 42D of a clamp 42 and a big diameter part 42B are shaved by the periphery edge 39A of the installation hole 52 on a radiator support 39 and the metal installation seat 40 is directly contacted with the radiator support 39 and the wire 54 connected to a control circuit is earthed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a satellite sensor mounting structure for an occupant protection device, and more particularly to a satellite sensor mounting structure for an occupant protection device in a vehicle such as an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an example of a satellite sensor mounting structure of an occupant protection device in a vehicle such as an automobile is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-152014.

[0003] In this satellite sensor mounting structure of the occupant protection device, when the satellite sensors provided at the front left and right of the vehicle detect that an acceleration exceeding a predetermined reference value is applied to the vehicle, the satellite sensor turns on. Is output. In addition, in response to this ON signal, a change pattern of the threshold value for the measured value of the deceleration by the floor sensor, which is used in the start-up determination unit of the control circuit of the occupant protection device, is changed to another change pattern, so that the vehicle collision Regardless of the mode, the occupant protection device can be started with a simple configuration.

[0004]

However, in this satellite sensor mounting structure of the occupant protection device, the satellite sensors are disposed above the left and right front side members. As a result, when the collision target is relatively soft, or when the collision mode is a so-called underride collision, the deformation load acting on the front side member decreases, and the collision detection tends to be delayed.

In view of the above facts, the present invention has a satellite sensor mounting structure for an occupant protection device capable of detecting a collision quickly and reliably even when the collision target is relatively soft or the collision type is a so-called underride collision. The goal is to obtain

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a satellite sensor mounting structure for an occupant protection device having satellite sensors on the front left and right portions of a vehicle, wherein a headlight lamp body is provided when the satellite sensor collides. It is characterized in that a collision is detected by retreating.

Therefore, the collision is detected by utilizing the backward movement of the lamp body of the headlight at the time of the vehicle collision. Therefore, even when the collision object is relatively soft or the collision type is a so-called underride collision, the vehicle front portion is not affected. Since the lamp body of the headlights arranged on the left and right retreats reliably,
A collision can be detected quickly and reliably.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the satellite sensor mounting structure for an occupant protection device according to the first aspect, the satellite sensor is a metal lamp mounting seat integrally protruding from a rear portion of the lamp body. A metal panel having a mounting hole into which the lamp mounting seat is fitted, and a clamp portion made of a soft insulator interposed between the periphery of the lamp mounting seat and the mounting hole of the metal panel. When the lamp body retreats, the clamp portion is scraped and the lamp mounting seat and the metal panel come into contact with each other to detect a collision.

Therefore, in addition to the contents of the first aspect, when the lamp body of the headlight retreats at the time of a vehicle collision, the clamp portion made of a soft insulator provided around the lamp mounting seat is shaved and the metal lamp is cut. The mounting seat and the metal panel come into direct contact with each other to be in a conductive state. For this reason, the collision can be electrically detected using this. In addition, since the satellite sensor is integrated with the lamp body of the headlight, the collision sensing area increases according to the area of the lamp body. As a result, the operation determination performance of the occupant protection device is improved. Furthermore, since the metal lamp mounting seat and the metal panel are configured to be conductive, the configuration is simpler than that of a conventional satellite sensor using an acceleration sensor or the like, and space is saved.
The cost can be reduced.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of a satellite sensor mounting structure for an occupant protection system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the drawings, arrow FR indicates the forward direction of the vehicle, and arrow UP indicates the upward direction of the vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 4, the vehicle 10 in the present embodiment is provided with a driver airbag device 12 and a passenger airbag device 14 as occupant protection devices. The driver's seat airbag device 12 and the passenger's seat airbag device 14 are connected to a control circuit 16 having a floor sensor, and the control circuit 16 is connected to left and right satellite sensors 18 and 20. .
The driver airbag device 12 and the passenger airbag device 14 each have a well-known configuration including an airbag bag body and an inflator. The activation signal from the control circuit 16 activates the inflator, and the inflator operates. The blown gas expands and deploys the airbag bag.

The floor sensor is a so-called acceleration sensor for measuring an impact applied to the vehicle 10. More specifically, the floor sensor measures a deceleration applied to the vehicle 10 in the front-rear direction as needed, and transmits the measured value to a signal. Output.

The control circuit 16 has a well-known configuration including a microcomputer, and outputs an output signal to the inflator in accordance with a program stored in advance. For example, the control circuit 16 compares a value obtained based on the detection result of the floor sensor with a predetermined threshold, and outputs an output signal to the inflator based on the comparison result. Each of the left and right satellite sensors 18 and 20 outputs an ON signal to the control circuit 16, and the control circuit 16 changes the threshold based on the ON signals from the left and right satellite sensors 18 and 20. It is supposed to.

Of these components, the control circuit 16
For example, the left and right satellite sensors 18 and 20 are disposed in a floor tunnel portion substantially at the center of the vehicle 10.
Are disposed behind the left and right headlights 22, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 3, the lamp body 32 of the headlight is formed with a plurality of mounting portions 34, 36, 38 for fixing the lamp body 32 to the body side of the vehicle 10. It is attached to a radiator support 39 of the vehicle 10 at attachment portions 34, 36, 38.

As shown in FIG. 2, the satellite sensor 20 on the left side of the vehicle is disposed at the rear end of the mounting portion 34 at the lower portion of the lamp body 32 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the satellite sensor 20 includes a metal lamp mounting seat (hereinafter, simply referred to as a mounting seat) 40 integrally projecting behind a mounting portion 34 of the lamp body 32. The mounting portion 40 is composed of a clamp portion 42 that covers the outer peripheral portions of the distal end portion 40A and the intermediate portion 40B and that is formed integrally with the mounting portion 40 and is made of a soft insulator such as resin. Base 4 of mounting seat 40 continuing to mounting portion 34
0C has a larger diameter than the front end portion (rear end portion of the vehicle) 40A, and the middle portion 40B has a larger diameter toward the front side of the vehicle body and has an inclined surface in a side view. Clamp part 4
Reference numeral 2 denotes a small-diameter portion 42A covering the outer peripheral portion of the distal end portion 40A of the mounting seat 40, a large-diameter portion 42B covering the intermediate portion 40B of the mounting seat 40, and a disk-shaped head formed on the end surface of the small-diameter portion 42A. 42C, and a connecting portion 42D of the large diameter portion 42B and the small diameter portion 42A and an outer peripheral portion 42E of the head portion 42C have a diameter that increases toward the front of the vehicle body, and have an inclined surface in a side view. .

Radiator support 3 as metal panel
9 is provided with a mounting hole 52 into which the small diameter portion 42A of the clamp portion 42 is fitted. The peripheral portion 39A of the mounting hole 52 in the radiator support 39 is sandwiched between the head portion 42C of the clamp portion 42 and the connecting portion 42D. When the vehicle is running, the clamp portion 42 is moved back and forth with respect to the radiator support 39. Do not move in the direction.

At the time of assembly, the head 42C of the clamp 42 is elastically deformed by passing the head 42C of the clamp 42 from the front side of the vehicle into the mounting hole 52 so that the head 42C passes through the mounting hole 52. Has become. In addition, mounting seat 4
The zero base 40C is connected to the control circuit 16 (see FIG. 4) by an electric wire 54, and the radiator support 39 is grounded.

As shown in FIG. 1B, when the lamp body 32 is pressed by a large force at the time of a vehicle collision or the like and moves toward the rear of the vehicle (in the direction of arrow A in the figure), the radiator support 39 is moved.
The connecting portion 42D and the large-diameter portion 42B of the clamp portion 42 are shaved by the peripheral portion 39A of the mounting hole 52 in the intermediate portion 40B of the metal mounting seat 40 and the radiator support 3.
9 are in direct contact with each other, so that the two are in a conductive state, and the electric wire 54 connected to the control circuit 16 (see FIG. 4) is grounded. Note that the satellite sensor 18 on the right side of the vehicle has the same configuration as the satellite sensor 20 on the left side of the vehicle, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

When a vehicle collides (front collision), the vehicle 10
When the headlights 22 located on the left and right sides of the front of the vehicle are pressed by the collision object toward the rear of the vehicle with a large force, as shown in FIG. Direction), the connecting portion 42D of the clamp portion 42 and the large-diameter portion 42B are cut off by the peripheral portion 39A of the mounting hole 52 in the radiator support 39, and the intermediate portion 40B of the metal mounting seat 40 and the radiator support 39 Are in direct contact with each other, and both are brought into a conductive state. Therefore, the electric wires 5 connected to the control circuit 16 (see FIG. 4)
4 is grounded via the mounting seat 40 and the radiator support 39. As a result, a signal indicating that the satellite sensor 18 or the satellite sensor 20 has been turned on is input to the control circuit 16.

The left and right satellite sensors 1
The control circuit 16 changes the threshold value based on the ON signals from 8, 8 and 20, compares the threshold value with the detection result of the floor sensor, outputs an output signal to the inflator based on the comparison result, and outputs the output signal to the driver's seat. The airbag device 12 and the passenger airbag device 14 are operated.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the lamp body 3
By providing the satellite sensors 18 and 20 in the vehicle 2, even when the collision target is relatively soft, or even when the collision mode is a so-called underride collision, the lamp main body 32 moves to the rear of the vehicle, thereby quickly and reliably. Can detect a collision.

Further, in this embodiment, since the satellite sensors 18 and 20 are integrated into the lamp body 32 of the left and right headlights 22 having the same shape, the sensing area is increased in accordance with the area of the lamp body 32. There is no performance difference between left and right. As a result, the operation discriminating performance of the driver airbag device 12 and the passenger airbag device 14 is improved.
Further, since the metal mounting seat 40 is covered with the clamp portion 42 made of a soft insulator such as a resin, it is possible to prevent the satellite sensors 18 and 20 from being turned on accidentally when the lamp main body 32 is mounted or removed. Further, in the present embodiment, since the metal lamp mounting seat 40 and the radiator support 39 are configured to be conductive, the configuration is simpler than that of a conventional satellite sensor using an acceleration sensor or the like, and space saving and cost reduction are achieved. It becomes possible.

In the above, the present invention has been described in detail with respect to a specific embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and various other embodiments are included in the scope of the present invention. It is clear to a person skilled in the art that is possible. For example, in the present embodiment, the driver airbag device 12 and the passenger airbag device 14 as the occupant protection devices are operated based on the ON signals of the left and right satellite sensors 18 and 20. Another occupant protection device such as the pretensioner 60 (see FIG. 4) may be operated. The lamp body 32
Are not limited to the shapes shown in the present embodiment. The lamp body 3
The metal panel to which 2 is attached is not limited to the radiator support 39. In the present embodiment, the metal mounting seat 4
0 is covered by the clamp portion 42 made of a soft insulator such as a resin, but the metal mounting seat 40 and the clamp portion 42 may be formed separately. Also, the soft insulator is attached to the metal mounting seat 4.
It may be configured to be coated to 0.

[0028]

The present invention described in claim 1 has an excellent effect that the collision can be detected quickly and reliably even when the collision target is relatively soft or the collision type is a so-called underride collision. .

According to the present invention, in addition to the effects of the first aspect, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, the occupant protection device is improved in its operation discriminating performance, has a simple structure, and can save space and cost. Has the effect.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is a side sectional view showing a normal state of a main part of a satellite sensor mounting structure of an occupant protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. It is a sectional side view which shows the collision state in the principal part of the satellite sensor mounting structure of an occupant protection device.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a satellite sensor mounting structure of the occupant protection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a vehicle body to which the satellite sensor mounting structure of the occupant protection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a vehicle body to which the satellite sensor mounting structure of the occupant protection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 12 Airbag device for driver's seat (occupant protection device) 14 Airbag device for passenger seat (occupant protection device) 16 Control circuit with floor sensor 18 Satellite sensor 20 Satellite sensor 22 Headlight 32 Lamp body 39 Radiator support (metal panel) 40) Metal lamp mounting seat 42 Clamp portion made of soft insulator 52 Mounting hole

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A satellite sensor mounting structure for an occupant protection device having satellite sensors on the left and right sides of a front part of a vehicle, wherein the satellite sensor is configured to detect a collision by retracting a lamp body of a headlight at the time of a collision. A satellite sensor mounting structure for an occupant protection device. 2. The lamp sensor according to claim 2, wherein the satellite sensor includes a metal lamp mounting seat integrally projecting rearward of the lamp body, a metal panel having a mounting hole into which the lamp mounting seat is fitted, and the lamp mounting. A clamp portion made of a soft insulator interposed between a periphery of a seat and a mounting hole of the metal panel, wherein when the lamp body is retracted, the clamp portion is shaved to remove the lamp mounting seat and the metal panel. The satellite sensor mounting structure for an occupant protection device according to claim 1, wherein the collision is detected by contact with the vehicle.